Apple tree named &#39;banning red fuji&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new ‘Fuji’ apple variety distinguished by fruit with dark red striping over a lighter red ground color and with large average fruit size for a ‘Fuji’ apple tree.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

NONE

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

NONE

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Malus×pumila, Mill.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘BANNING FUJI’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree (Malus pumila, Mill.) discovered in East Wenatchee, Wash. growing in a cultivated block of ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ (not patented), a mutation of ‘BC 2 Fuji’, (not patented) apple trees. These ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ trees were growing on ‘M 26’ rootstock (not patented) planted in 1994. In the late summer (August) of 1999, I noticed a one-inch diameter branch with four apples that had fruit with distinctly more striping and color than the fruit on the rest of the tree. This branch mutation is the origin of my new variety.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ‘Banning Fuji’ variety is distinguished from other apple varieties due to the following unique combination of characteristics: fruit with dark red striping over lighter red ground color and an increase in average fruit size for a ‘Fuji’ apple tree. In addition, the fruit has stems that are longer on average than stems of ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ trees.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety shows that the foregoing characteristics come true to form, are firmly fixed, and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. In 1999, buds from the original ‘Banning Fuji’ mutated branch mutation were obtained and used to bud limbs of four adjacent ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ trees growing on ‘M 26’ (not patented) root stock. These first generation trees were top budded with the budded ‘Banning Fuji’ branches being left on the top worked trees and the ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ branches being removed after the buds became established branches. These first generation trees produced ‘Banning Fuji’ fruit in 2001 that were identical to fruit on the original ‘Banning Fuji’ mutation branch. Upon confirming the stable nature of this mutation, buds from ‘Banning Fuji’ branches on these first generation trees were used to graft five ‘Imperial Gala’ (not patented) trees in an orchard in Quincy, Wash. These five second generation trees were top worked to leave the ‘Banning Fuji’ branches after the grafts were established. These five second generation trees were also growing on M26 rootstock. The second generation trees, grafted in 2001, have produced apples that appear identical to the apples from the original ‘Banning Fuji’ mutated branch and to apples from the first generation trees. In 2002, 300 ‘Banning Fuji’ trees in East Wenatchee were obtained by grafting on ‘M 9’ (not patented) rootstock. These third generation trees have produced only a few apples, but these apples also appear identical to those from the earlier generations of ‘Banning Fuji’ trees.

Certain characteristics of this variety, such as growth and color, may change with changing environmental conditions, such as photoperiod, temperature, moisture, soil conditions, nutrient availability, or other factors). For example, leaf colors may be brighter green if the trees are grown in soil with greater nitrogen concentrations, and may be more yellow when grown in soil containing lesser amounts of nitrogen. Color descriptions and other terminology are used in accordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Color designations (hue/value/chroma) are made with reference to the Munsell Book of Color, Kollmorgen Instruments Corp., 405 Little Britain Road, New Windsor, N.Y. 12553.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing various aspects of ‘Banning Fuji’ fruit, showing cavity, basin, and transverse and longitudinal sections.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the basin end of the following ‘Fuji’ strains: 1. ‘Banning Fuji’; 2. ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ (unpatented); 3. ‘Nagafu 12’ (unpatented); 4. ‘Snyder’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,098); 5. ‘Myra’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,645); 6. ‘BC 2’ (unpatented); 7. ‘Nagafu 6’ (unpatented); and 8. standard ‘Fuji’ (unpatented).

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing the stem ends of the ‘Fuji’ strains of FIG. 2 with each variety in FIG. 3 having the same number as in FIG. 2.

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the fruit of this new apple tree variety and depict the color as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character. It should be noted that colors may vary, for example due to lighting conditions at the time the photographs are taken. Therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from the photographs alone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the ‘Banning Fuji’ cultivar apple tree is based on observations of the original ‘Banning Fuji’ mutated branch growing on the ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ tree growing in East Wenatchee, Wash.

-   Scientific name: Malus×pumila, Mill. ‘Banning Fuji’. -   Parentage: Limb mutation of ‘BC 2 Fuji’ (not patented). -   Tree:     -   -   Overall shape.—Upright-spreading (typical ‘Fuji’ shape).         -   Vigor.—Medium to high; average seasonal growth in East             Wenatchee, Wash., approximately 28 to 48 cm.         -   Productivity.—Annually productive when properly thinned. -   Trunk: (Original mutated branch was found at 2 m height on ‘Desert     Rose Fuji’ tree and was a central, nearly vertical primary branch     and therefore is described as a trunk in this description):     -   -   Size.—2.5 cm diameter at 0.5 m from origin of mutation.         -   Trunk bark texture.—Smooth, with raised lenticels, about 4             per square centimeter; similar to that of standard ‘Fuji’             (not patented).         -   Trunk bark color.—Tan with slightly orange tint (7.5 YR             4/4). -   Branches:     -   -   Primary branches.—Upright to spreading, similar to those of             standard ‘Fuji’. Two-year-old branches averaged 9 mm in             diameter and 89 cm in length. Branch angle at emergence             typically 50 to 70 degrees from the vertical, similar to             standard ‘Fuji’.         -   Branch color.—One-year shoot bark color ranges from green             (2.5 GY 5/4) lower surface to brownish purple (7.5 R 3/4)             upper surface; two-year-old branch becoming light brown (5             YR 4/4).         -   Branch pubescence.—Mostly glabrous to very fine, colorless             pubescence at nodes.         -   Branch lenticels.—Round to elongated, decreasing in density             from base of branch to terminal; size 0.5×1.2 mm; light tan             (7.5 YR 6/2).         -   Internodes.—Average internode length on one-year-shoot 4.0             cm. -   Leaves (Observations were of 10 leaves in June 2004.):     -   -   Texture.—Smooth, with slightly rugose upper surface; similar             to that of standard ‘Fuji’.         -   Sheen.—Somewhat glossy.         -   Length.—About 7 cm to about 9.0 cm, averaging about 8.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.5 to 7.0 cm, averaging about 6.0 cm.         -   Petiole.—About 32 mm in length, 2 mm in diameter. Color of             petiole is light green (10 Y 7/4).         -   Form.—Oval, tapering to tip.         -   Marginal f206 orm.—Finely serrate to crenate.         -   Tip.—Acute.         -   Stipules.—Present on all leaves of vigorous one-year shoots;             variable in length from 7 to 15 mm, in width from 0.5 to 3             mm.         -   Leaf color.—Upwardly disposed surface: dark green (5 GY             4/4). Downwardly disposed surface: medium green (5 GY 6/4).             Vein: light green (2.5 GY 8/4).         -   Pubescence.—Very fine, colorless. -   Flowers (Observations are from sampling of flowers from the original     ‘Banning Fuji’ mutated branch.):     -   -   Size.—Individual flowers are medium size (typically about 45             mm fully open), similar in appearance to standard ‘Fuji’.         -   Bloom description.—Flowers generally in clusters of 5             flowers per spur.         -   Flower color.—Bud (popcorn stage): light pink (7.5 RP 7/8),             similar to standard ‘Fuji’. Fully open flower, upper side             pure white, reverse side pure white.         -   Petals.—Oblong, typical petals about 20 mm in length and             about 13 mm in width.         -   Stamen.—Arranged in a single row. About 18 stamens, each             about 6 mm in length.         -   Filament.—About 6 to 7 mm in length.         -   Anthers.—Light yellow (5 Y 8.5/10).         -   Pistil.—Stigma: round to oblong stigmatal surface. Style:             five filaments fused at base, approximately 10 mm in length.         -   Sepal.—Recurved downward, light green (2.5 GY 7/6), with             fine, colorless pubescence. Sepals are about 6 mm in length,             3 mm wide at base, recurved to expose persistent stamen.         -   Pollen.—Light yellow (5 Y 8.5/10). Fragrance: medium,             fruity, typical of ‘Fuji’, but not distinctive.         -   Time of bloom.—During the year 2004 at East Wenatchee: first             bloom April 25; full bloom May 5, petal fall May 10. (2004             was an exceptionally early bloom year.) Bloom of this             variety was not different from that of adjacent ‘Desert Rose             Fuji’ trees.         -   Fertility.—Diploid. Presumed to be identical to that of             other ‘Fuji’ strains.         -   Eye (calyx or calyx tube).—Closed. -   Fruit (observations from ten samples of typical fruit grown in East     Wenatchee, Wash. in September/October 2003.) Maturity when described     was mid-harvest period, October 15, 2003 at East Wenatchee, Wash.     -   -   Maturity.—Identical to that of standard Fuji (not patented).         -   Firmness.—19 to 22 pounds (Taylor-Magress pressure tester).         -   Soluble solids reading (refractometer).—was 14 to 16%.         -   Malic acid content (titration).—0.45%.         -   Starch index (1 to 6 scale).—was 3.5.         -   Size: Large, about 9 to 10 cm (3.6 to 4 inches); box size 56             to 80. Average 72 box size (72 apples per 42 pound box) in             comparison to 80 box size (80 apples per 42 pound box) for             ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ apples growing in Wenatchee, Wash. area             during one growing season. Average weight 365 grams in our             observation of a sampling of typical apples.         -   Form.—Round, symmetric; length/diameter ratio approximately             0.9: 1, with no ribbing; distal end smooth, with no lobes.         -   Stem Cavity.—Medium width (about 30 mm); medium depth,             (about 12 mm); acute.         -   Basin Cavity: Medium (about 35 mm), shallow to medium depth             (about 8 to 10 mm).

Stem: Medium length (14 to 22 mm); width 2 mm, with clubbed terminal end; the stems being longer on average than those of ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ fruit stems; greenish (10 Y 6/6) to reddish brown (2.5 R 54), with very fine colorless pubescence.

-   -   -   Locules (carpels).—Medium size, 5 in number, closed.         -   Skin.—Texture smooth; naturally glossy but not greasy; not             prone to russet; occasional cracking in stem cavity with             advanced maturity; skin thin and tender.         -   Lenticels.—Light tan (2.5 Y 8/2); medium density (9 per             square cm); small, round, less than 1 mm in diameter.         -   General color effect.—Bright pink-red blush, most apples 80             to 100% blushed.         -   Ground color.—Honey red (5 Y 8/8).         -   Over color.—Deep bright red (5 R 3/10).         -   Russet.—None observed.         -   Flesh.—Color off white (7.5 Y 9/2).         -   Texture.—Crisp and juicy, retaining crispness throughout             long storage period.         -   Flavor.—Sweet, typical of standard ‘Fuji’.         -   Acidity.—Low for early ripening variety, approximately 0.5%             malic acid.         -   Aroma.—None.         -   Core.—Round, small, about 22 mm width by about 30 mm length;             number of bundles: ten; core lines sharply defined; core             mostly closed, calyx tube short, closed.         -   Seed.—Obovate in shape, usually 2 per cell, brown (10 YR             3/6); length about 7 mm width about 4 mm, with tight             adherence to carpel wall.         -   Keeping quality.—Exceptional; fruit remains firm and crisp             at room temperature for almost four weeks.         -   Storage.—Up to 8 months in common storage (0 degrees C.); 12             months in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage.         -   Usage.—Primarily for fresh eating (dessert), but acceptable             for culinary uses, including sugarless preparations.         -   Cold hardiness.—Not tested, but presumably similar to that             of standard ‘Fuji’, which is considered to be as hardy as             its parents, ‘Red Delicious’ and “Ralls Janett’.

Disease resistance.—Similar to that of standard ‘Fuji’, susceptible to apple scab, moderately susceptible to powdery mildew and fire blight. This cultivar has been grown only in the area of origination, near Wenatchee, Wash. COMPARISON OF FUJI STRAINS Percent Fuji Strain Patent Status Type Red Skin Size* 1. ‘Banning’ (This Intermediate 100%  110% Application) 2. ‘Desert Rose’ Not patented Blush 100%  100% 3. ‘Nagafu 12’ Not patented Intermediate 80% 100% 4. ‘Snyder’ USPP 12098 Stripe 70% 100% 5. ‘Myra’ USPP 9645 Blush   80%+ 100% 6. ‘BC 2’ Not patented Intermediate 55% 100% 7. ‘Nagafu 6’ Not patented Stripe 50% 100% 8. Standard Not patented Stripe 30% 100% *As relates to average Fuji size. Intermediate refers to being between a full stripe and a full blush. 

1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree, substantially as herein shown and described. 